THE HANG-NESTS. 29 



have been sent to the British Museum by Mr. W. D. Gum- 

 ming. The winter home of the species seems to be Southern 

 and South-western Africa, viz., Natal, the Transvaal and Da- 

 mara Land. 



Habits. Very much like those of a Thrush. In disposition 

 the bird is very shy and by no means so easily observed as 

 its brilliant plumage would lead one to suppose, though it is 

 often found nesting in parks and gardens of continental towns. 

 Its food consists mostly of insects, but in summer it feeds a 

 great deal on fruit, especially cherries. The note is described 

 as flute-like and very beautiful in tone. Mr. Seebohm, who 

 has taken many nests of the Oriole in Holland, says : " The 

 call-note during the pairing season sounds like the words, 

 * Who are you ? ' in a full rapid whistle ; and its song is a 

 wheet, //", vee-o, whence its vernacular name in Holland of 

 ' Kiel-i-vee-vo. ' " 



Nest. Suspended from the fork of a branch, sometimes in a 

 fir-tree, but generally in an oak, at a considerable height from 

 the ground. It is composed of strips of bark, which are also 

 used to bind it to the branch in which it is fixed. The lining 

 consists of grass-stalks. 



Eggs. Four or five, white or pinkish white, spotted nearly 

 all over with black or chocolate brown, the latter generally 

 being the underlying colour, the spots not unfrequently congre- 

 gated at the larger end. Axis, r 1-1*3 mcn > diam., o*8-o'9. 



THE HANG-NESTS. FAMILY ICTERID^.* 



Three species of this American family have been allowed to 

 swell the British List, (i) the Red-winged Starling (Agelceus 

 phaniceus\ of which about a dozen occurrences have taken 

 place; (2) the Rusty Grakle (Scolecophagus ferrugineus\ which 

 has been captured once ; and the Meadow Starling (Stur- 

 nella magna), of the occurrence of which three instances are 

 known. There can be no reasonable doubt that they were all 

 imported birds which had escaped or been turned loose. 



* Gracula religiosa, an Indian Mynah, has also been recorded, but as it 

 is a frequent cage-bird, no importance can be attached to its capture. 





